Statute Law Repeals - Law Commission - Ministry of Justice

Bowyer’s Lottery
7.17 Robert Bowyer was a painter of miniatures and a print publisher, based at his
gallery in Pall Mall. He sought generally to promote the arts of painting and
engraving and, more specifically, he wanted to publish an ornamented folio of
Hume’s History of England. However, as with the Boydells before him, high costs,
an uncertain market and other failures of assistance drove Bowyer to find an
alternative means of realising his asset.
7.18 The Bowyer’s Lottery Act 1805 9 allowed Bowyer to dispose of his collection
(together with unsold copies of the Hume) by lottery which should raise up to
£69,300 by selling 22,000 tickets. Some of the art works for sale were, as yet,
incomplete. They had to be furnished with certificates of completion. Pending
distribution of the property (and distribution of the proceeds) all the assets had to
be held by three named trustees. Once the lottery was complete the copper
plates of the Hume were to be destroyed by the trustees, although copyright
remained with Bowyer.
7.19 The statutory lottery was time-limited, expiring in December 1806. However,
because the only available state lottery carried 20,000 tickets, and Bowyer
needed 22,000, time was inadequate and continuation powers were required.
The Bowyer’s Lottery Act 1807 10 re-enacted the original powers and enabled
distribution of the 1,451 prizes to be determined either by the first available state
lottery or by private lottery (both before July 1807).
7.20 Bowyer gave public notice in February 1807 of his second attempt, which attempt
came to fruition - via the state lottery - in April 1807. As a consequence, both the
1805 and the 1807 Acts are spent.
9 45 Geo.3 c.xxiv (1805).
10 47 Geo.3 Sess.1 c.i (1807).
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